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CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES . 
ZOOLOGY. 
Humane Mode of killing Animals. —We open our Miscellanies this month 
with good news for that portion of the animal creation doomed to be slaughtered 
for Man’s food; and if they are as intelligent as the Dog (mentioned in the 
'Pickwick Papers ) which read with thoughtful visage the injunction to shoot all 
canine trespassers on the premises, they will surely record us a vote of thanks 
for our kindness. The Sheffield. Patriot , of Jan. 8, 1839—patriotically inclined 
towards the brute creation—informs us how Dr. Carson, F.R.S., of Liverpool, 
after a long course of patient investigation, discovered a mode of killing animals 
which is not only to be very delightful for themselves, but is to increase the value 
of the meat one-tenth. We confess we took just such an interest in this subject 
as befitted our position ; but, lo ! after occupying several minutes of our inexpressi¬ 
bly valuable time in perusing an elaborate statement of the case, we were, as regards 
the main point—the modus operandi —in exactly the same state as before. But the 
animals must have patience, and so must we, for no doubt Dr. Carson intends to 
take out a patent for his discovery.* Some of the butchers , we dare say, will 
not be over thankful to the learned Doctor for his suggestion, since they 
occasionally talk very complacently of Sheep, &c., being “ pleasant animals to 
kill.” However, for the present the matter is wrapt in the most profound and 
interesting mystery; and no one but the Doctor himself can say whether we are 
to have the phenomenon of Pigs “ giving up the ghost” of their own accord when 
required so to do, whether it be a self-acting humane everlasting incomparable 
machine for depriving so many Swine of their ghosts within the minute, or 
whether our prejudices are to be alarmed by something still more direful.— 
We can only promise to await, with befitting philosophy, the statement of the 
“ woonder,” and hope to receive it with requisite calmness when avowed.— Ed. 
Incubation of the Tern. —In your paper on Gould’s Birds in the December 
number, you observe (p. 124) that the Tern has been said to leave her eggs to 
the influence of the sun to be hatched. Those persons with whom the opinion 
originated have not observed accurately. On Blakeney Beach, on the Norfolk 
coast, I have had frequent opportunities of watching these two graceful fishers 
of the deep during the season of incubation. They resort there in numbers, and 
deposit their eggs among the shingles, sand, and broken shells, which form beds, 
or 44 casts” as they are termed, intersected and varied with small ridges of drift 
The Doctor has since obtained his patent. 
